MACEDON, Under Roman Rule. Circa 148-147 BC. AR Tetradrachm (32mm, 16.65 gm). Diademed head of Artemis right with quiver over shoulder in the center of a Macedonian shield; shield decorated with six eight-pointed stars within double crescents / LEG above, MAKEDONWN below, club with handle to the left; hand above holding olive branch; AY monogram below, all within oak-wreath, thunderbolt to the left. MacKay,
ANSMN 14, 14 (O3/R13 ). Toned good VF, beginnings of die deterioration. Very Rare.
This coin uses the same basic design as that previously issued by the Macedonian republic, but with a few added elements that allow it to be dated to shortly after Andriscus’ defeat by Metullus. As Pierre MacKay states “When the news of Andriscus’ activities was first taken seriously in Rome, the Romans sent not an army but a legate, hoping that things could be settled peaceably”. Metullus was sent when it became apparent that diplomacy was not going to work. As the Romans did not think the Macedonian people had supported Andriscus in his revolt, they sent a peace embassy, instead of an army of occupation, after his defeat. The Latin legend LEG refers to ‘legatio’, an embassy, and the hand holding the olive branch an offer of peace.
